The Sommer Frieze

As a Steelers fan, I can say that when I saw today’s final score over my lunch break that I wasn’t happy.

From 6-2 to 6-6. Losses to KC and now Oakland. For the fifth time this year, losing a 4th qtr. lead. It seems like they go into the final minute of each game up 20-17 or so and lose 24-20. The defense can’t hold the opposition at the end of a game.

Goodness, how valuable is Polamalu?

The defending SB champs are in deep trouble. It looks like come January they won’t be in the playoffs. I am a Steelers fan, but have to agree with this assessment. The writer is dead on. 

Tim the Wizard, a Jets fan, has a better outlook with his 6-6 Jets than I do with the Steelers. After all, with the Steelers the division looks out of reach since the Bengals are now 9-3. Not so with the Jets, who (along with Miami) are just one game behind the Patriots, who, like the Steelers, are struggling lately. New England’s loss today drops them to 7-5…

Who’d have thought that the Steelers and Patriots would have such mediocre records 12 games in?

Looking at sterling records however, the Colts and Saints remain perfect, even though the Saints had to walk a tightrope to edge the Redskins in OT today.

Michael Vick, meanwhile, returned to Atlanta and accounted for 2 TDs in an Eagles romp.

A much needed win by the Giants today as they go to 7-5 by beating Dallas. They are now one game behind Dallas and Philadelphia.

I do have to add that I agree with making the safety of players paramount. Some may not like someone sitting out, but a concussion is nothing to mess around with. We’ve seen what has happened to punch-drunk fighters. We can look at Muhammad Ali and his Parkinson’s. Do we really need QB’s or others being the same way? Someone’s health—especially long-term health—is nothing to mess with.

The indiscretions of Tiger Woods (what is it now, 6 women?) remind us that some people never learn. I mean, you would have thought that the Magic Johnson HIV story would have hit home with some people, right? Could you imagine Tiger having to hold a press conference because one of his mistresses gave him the clap or worse?  

On the baseball front, I see rumors that Rafael Soriano may want to go back to the Braves. The reliever has several teams interested in him, one of which is said to be the Yankees.